Brule River Sportsmen's Club
Representing over 600 members worlwide
Canoeing the Bois Brule River
Whether you are in the mood for a peaceful float with the
family or the challenge of an exciting ride through
whitewater, the Brule River can fulfill your dream.
This unique river varies from a meandering stream in a conifer bog to a tumbling, churning torrent falling madly toward Lake Superior. This spring-fed river lies in a small watershed and thus the level remains relatively constant. The total elevation drop of the river is 418 feet, with 328 feet of that drop in the last 19 miles. There are ten designated canoe landings on state land on the Brule River. In order to protect and preserve the shorelines of the river, all watercraft launching and landing on state lands are restricted to these ten sites. Two of those sites are at the two state forest campgrounds, Bois Brule and Copper Range, and are designed for use by canoeists who are camping at those campgrounds.
T
he most popular canoe trip on the Brule begins at Stone’s Bridge canoe
landing. This trip starts out on pretty flat water winding through cedar, spruce, and
balsam bog forests. After about 1 1/2 hours, the perceptive canoeist will notice subtle
changes in the surroundings. The river
bottom will brighten up from silt to clean
gravel, and river current will increase
noticeably. The river traveler will soon
pass through the first of the privately owned
estates and lodges along this stretch
of river. After a few easy rapids, the
canoeist will come upon a narrow chute
where the river scurries out of a small
placid lake. From there to Big Lake, a
widening in the river occurs and there are
a few more exciting runs. After Big Lake,
it takes approximately one hour to arrive
at Winneboujou canoe landing. Another
popular take out on this section of river is
to continue on from Winneboujou to the
Highway 2 landing.
The confirmed whitewater canoeist or
kayaker will be interested in getting right
into the action by starting at Pine Tree
landing. This trip takes the paddler
through nearly continuous stretches of
ledges and rapids before arriving at the
Highway 13 landing. Before embarking
on this trip, newcomers should scout the
river from Highway FF bridge and/or
Mays Ledges angler access. During times
of high water, increased caution is urged
before considering this section of river.
Approximate Times Between Landings
Stones Bridge to Winneboujou ................................................. 4 hrs
Stones Bridge to Bois Brule Picnic/Canoe Landing ............... 4 3/4 hrs
Winneboujou to Bois Brule Picnic Area/Canoe Landing .........45 minutes
Winneboujou to Hwy 2 .......................................................... 11/4 hrs
Hwy 2 to Pine Tree ................................................................... 4 hrs
Pine Tree to Hwy 13 .................................................................. 5 hrs
Hwy 13 to Mouth of the Brule ................................................... 4 hrs
Canoeing
Paddling Video (wmv)
Map of the River (pdf)